The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-07
A BANDITS NERVE.
AN HOUR WITH vAsQUEz ON THE
NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH.

Like Gentleman.
From the Sda francisco Examiner.
saw Kernaghan's neck stretched on Fri
day, and it recalled another hanging of
thirteen years back-that Of Tiburcio Vas
quez
Sheriff Adams, afterward murdered in
Arizona by friends of the bandit, so it is
supposed, let party of San Francisco re-
porters into the San Jose Jail the nj ght be-
fore the execution.
The little brigand. who had robbed and
slaughtered with his band through Santa
Clara, San Benito, Fresno, Tulare, and the
whole southern country, until he had
achieved a notoriety as high as that OF his
great predecessor, Joaquin Murietta, was
sitting absorbed in a newspaper when the
reporters entered. He had been permitted
to leave his cell and take the freedom of the
asphalt paved corridor, His chair was
fashioned from a dry goods box, and his
lamp stood on the equally rough table,
where there were also pens and ink. He had
been writing his last letters
Vasquez rose and nodded pleasantly to his
curious visitors. There were half a dozen
of them, and each presented him with a
cigar or two, so that he had handful.
Pm afraid" he said with smile, that
| shan't have time to smoke all these"
He was very polite bandit, and re-
manned standing until all the strangers were
seated. He was not only self-possessed but
cheerful 1t pleased him to see new and not
unfriendly faces, for no doubt his solitary
thoughts had been anything but agreeable
company.
As he stood there, one hand on the arm of
his chair, the newspaper in the other, and
showing courteous interest in the efforts of
the bustling deputy to find seats for his
guests, he was far from formidable in ap-
pearance. However terrible he may have
looked when, shotgun in hand, he rode upto
the stage coach, or the wayslde store, the
lonely traveller, or the isolated ranch house,
with his Gathering, criminal cavalry behind
him, as ready to blow out brains and cut
threats as TO take plumber he was now but
a short, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned
Mexican, with nothing what
ever forbidding about him. Indeed, his
manner was engaging.
The fellow was a gentleman. He showed
it not only in his politeness, but in the cool
courage with which he faced his dreadful
end.
Il would rather talk of something else,
if it is agreeable to you gentlemen" he
said, when tine reporters fell to business,
and questioned him about the state of his
mind.
lam to be hanged tomorrow. Very
well. don't like it, but have no choice.
Seep'
And he shrugged his shoulders and
smiled.
"Do you feel that you deserve your fatem
solemnly asked the dullest reporter.
'Well, that does not matter" he an
swered, lighting cigar. while | never
killed anybody myself, permitted my men
to do so, and in the eye of the law that is
the same thing so l suppose | deserve what
is going to happen. Since l cannot help
myself | am content"
His English was not nearly so good as
this, but it was not so bad as an attempt to
render his Mexican accent in print would
make it.
do you believe in a hereafter" asked the
solemn reporter,
Undo you'd he asked in return, his
black eyes twinkling.
The solemn reporter grinned, and SO did
Vasquez.
1.-The priest he has been here. He says
there is another world. He is a good man
Butt seriously. 81 die a Christian, Cath
ohc, as l have lived. VIII you pardon me,
gentlemen, il / ask you to talk about some
thing else than myself. l am glad to see
you; 1 like company. The weather is
pleasant, ehF'
He leaned back in his rude chair with an
animated countenance. ready to chat, like
one who wished to while away dragging
hours. He had about fourteen of them
left.
The mans face was strong and firm. He
was in the prime of life, and in perfect
health. His courage had been proved in
many bloody fight, and if by numbering
all his visitors it would have given him one
chance in thousand of escape that chance
would have been taken, and God thanked
for it. As it was, he smiled cordially, and
accepted the inevitable with manly compo-
sure
His politeness was inexhaustible The
editor of one of the local pa
pers came in, greeted him with boisterous
hilarity meant at once to cheer the con-
demned and display to the metropolitan
journalists his superior intimacy with a cell
ebrated character. The editor actually
took a copy of his paper from his pocket
and with the remark: II suppose you want
to hear what said about you tonight sat
down and read to Vasquez three solid col
unns about his crimes. the preparations for
the hanging. and minute description of the
gallows, with mention of the other crimi-
mails who he'd stepped upon it,
This performance appalled, the callous re-
porters but Vasquez bore it in silence, with
out vince or froNn.
Sheriff Adams appeared. and the Mexican
retired into the shadow with him. They
whispered together, and the Sheriff seemed
to be trying to dissuade his charge from some
purpose. But Vasquez was resolute, and
the officer retired with deprecatory show
ing of his palms.
Soon there was a tranping OF feet with
out, the key turned. and the iron doors
were thrown open, changing Two men
bearing coffin, and followed by black
coated undertaken with pair of trestles i'll
his hand. came in. the coffin-a fine one,
studded with silvel-headed nails-was
placed on the trestes, and tine brigand cigar
in teeth, stepped up and inspected it with
lively interest. He half squatted and ran
his hands along the side.
Its too short" he said with surprise,
looking at the awed undertaken, who as
sured him it was oil right-that it should
be measured at the top, not near the bot
tom.
Its high" cried Vasquez, with wave
If his hand, pleased ut the quality of the
,ofiln, which had been provided by his
friends. The undertaken thought he re-
erred to the lid. which was rounded, and
aid that it was the fashion to make them
hat way. .-.-,.--
"Oh, he doesn't mean that" said the local
,ditor, scornfully. what he means is that
Us nifty
eyes, nifty agreed the Mexican, glanc-
no GRO taC,,lfv at tha San lose iourna lief for.